12/27/2010

Merry Christmas from the bearded one. No, not Father Christmas but Sir Richard Branson. This year his beardedness sent out special editions of Monopoly to favoured friends – and to Dashwood.

The boards are leatherbound, the pieces are metal and all of it is bespoke to the Virgin empire. Even the Community Chest cards are particular to Virgin. "Receive £2.5m prize for beard of the year," one of them reads.

Branson, you're nicking my gags.

Each square has one of Branson's companies on it. So Virgin Money and Branson's Caribbean getaway Necker Island are where Pall Mall and Mayfair would usually be. V Festival and Virgin Wines are relegated to Old Kent Road and Whitechapel. Sorry chaps.

The maker's website advertises very similar games on sale for £675 a pop.

I'll be enjoying a game today. And reminding myself of the "object of the game" – to be the only person left in the game who is not bankrupt. (Credit: The Telegraph)